Mr. Speaker, the Parti Québécois has elected a new leader, and what a leader: he is none other than Jean-François Lisée.

As a former right-hand man to some of our most illustrious heads of state, he is the perfect person for the job. He is an intellectual, a man of words, a man of conviction. With Jean-François Lisée at the helm, the sovereignist movement will make major headway.

He will not be working alone. Alongside him, Martine Ouellet, Alexandre Cloutier, Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon, Véronique Hivon, and all of the people on the ground will be working to make the sovereignist vision of Quebec's largest activist organization a reality.

With Jean-François Lisée and the Bloc Québécois by his side, we will build the winning momentum Quebec needs. As of today, we are all on the same path, the right path, the path to victory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the life and work of celebrated Canadian author Farley Mowat. Mr. Mowat, a literary icon and a long-time resident of my riding in Port Hope, Ontario, was recently honoured in the community with the unveiling of a bronze bust to recognize his undeniable contributions to Canadian culture.

Mr. Mowat, as the author of such legendary Canadian books as Never Cry Wolf and Lost in the Barrens, sold more than 17 million books worldwide in his lifetime. He clearly encapsulated man's humility in the face of nature's raw and unbridled power.

I would like to congratulate the family of Mr. Mowat, his wife Claire, son Sandy, grandson Justin, and brother John, on this special recognition.

Mr. Speaker, the government's euthanasia legislation was supposed to restrict the practice to a narrow set of cases, not simply to legalize death on demand. However, a physician's recent harrowing accounts of abuses of the euthanasia bill, just published in The Huffington Post, show very clearly that the safeguards in the law are not working.

In one of the cases recounted, a Vancouver physician declared a depressed person eligible for euthanasia even before examining that person, because the patient “could easily get bed sores and then die of infection”. A person's death was, prior to examination, declared reasonably foreseeable because the person could theoretically die from from an as-yet uncontracted bedsore infection. That is the reality of legal euthanasia right now in Canada: people who meet no credible criteria are doctor shopping and then finding someone who will sign off.

To mitigate these egregious cases we are already seeing, something as simple as better definitions would go a long way. In light of these emerging case reports, I call on the government to fix this alarming problem as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, October is Women's History Month, so I would like to recognize the outstanding contribution of someone from my beautiful riding of Marc-Aurèle-Fortin.

Over the past few months, I have had the immense privilege of meeting people who care about improving the day-to-day reality of others. I rise today to recognize the contribution of Kathleen Gagnon, who was, until very recently, the executive director of Moisson Laval.

For over 30 years, Ms. Gagnon was involved in that organization with the very clear objective of improving the well-being of the people of Laval. Like so many others, Ms. Gagnon has been dedicated to helping those in need for decades.

To her and so many other women whose caring attitude and compassion are just part of who they are, I want to say thank you and well done.

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to be in the House to celebrate the groundbreaking Persons Case for women's equality.

On this day in 1929, five courageous women forced a ruling that women were in fact persons in Canada. Who knew?

This was a landmark victory for Canadian women, but 87 years later our progress has stalled. We rank 60th in the world on gender parity in Parliament, and at only 26% in the House, we have not met the United Nations' threshold of female legislators required to ensure that women's issues are forefront in our policy-making.

Tomorrow, I urge my fellow parliamentarians to vote in favour of the gender equity act. We need concrete action much more than good intentions.

Let us continue the work of the Famous Five and a history full of trail-blazing Canadian women. Let us ensure our Parliament reflects the diversity of our Canada.

Mr. Speaker, today we commemorate the Persons Case, and we recognize the countless women whose contributions have changed the course of the history of our democracy.

Eighty-seven years ago today, the highest court in the land recognized that women should be included in the legal definition of “persons” under the Constitution Act, 1867, thanks to the efforts of five courageous women. That was only the beginning of the fight.

My personal unsung hero is Isabel Dawson, one of the first women to graduate in law from McGill. Legally prohibited from becoming a member of the bar until 1941, her 1936 Civil Code commanded her to obey her husband, something she rarely did, and as a married woman, prevented her from entering into contracts, alongside minors and the insane.

These provisions were not fully revoked, in fact, until the mid-1960s. We have come a long way. It is thanks to the struggles of my grandmother, whom I still miss every day, that I am able to stand here and personally appreciate the work that has been done and remains to be accomplished.

Mr. Speaker, Saskatoon's business community is mourning the loss of a pioneer, Shirley Ryan. The former executive director of the North Saskatoon Business Association passed away last Monday.

Shirley had held the post for 19 years on her retirement in 2009. According to the current executive director Keith Moen, Shirley Ryan's tenacity and leadership helped propel the NSBA.

Shirley always told people exactly what was on her mind and in very plain terms. She was also one of the kindest, sweetest, sincerest ladies that one could ever meet. She had a heart of gold. She touched so many lives in our community and will be missed, without question.

Shirley Ryan is survived by her husband Bill and by her sons Robert and Peter. A memorial service will be held this coming Sunday at 2 p.m. at Prairieland Park.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the work and contribution of Canada's 40,000 pharmacists, who are leading the charge in innovative health care practices from coast to coast to coast.

Pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers in the country, and they are a vital point of contact between our health care system and the Canadian public.

As members of the House know, local pharmacies are critical to the health of any community and, as small business owners, are the backbone of the Canadian economy.

Throughout the country, pharmacists provide basic medical services including vaccines, exams, and pharmaceutical advice. Some pharmacists can even prescribe medication for common ailments. Pharmacists play a very important role in Canada's health care system.

I invite all members to join me in welcoming representatives of the Canadian Pharmacists Association to Ottawa today. Let us recognize them for the hard work they do in keeping all Canadians healthy.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak on the occasion of Persons Day, a day that recognizes the historic decision to include women in the definition of persons under the law, which was handed down on October 18, 1929.

It is hard to believe today that a law needed to be passed for us to legally recognize the remarkable contributions of women to our democracy and our society.

When I think of the incredibly talented women in my riding and their achievements, I am nothing short of inspired. In particular, I would like to take this opportunity to commend Janine Purves, Anne Marie Dean, Marj Andre, Kathleen Mochnacki, Sherry Bennett, Heather Skoll, Fatima Sajan, Mahnaz Shahbasi, and Amy Tam for their hard work and dedication toward the betterment of our community in Richmond Hill.

Their contributions have impacted my riding in key areas including poverty reduction, environmental action, and community building.

Mr. Speaker, as a chiropractor, I know how important it is for Canadians to keep their spines healthy. Over 11 million Canadians suffer from at least one musculoskeletal condition every single year. In fact, low back pain and other MSK conditions account for one-third of missed work in Canada, second only to the common cold.

Our back hurts because we sit too much. Our necks ache because we spend hours staring at computer screens. As a result, millions of Canadians move through their day enduring back and neck pain, migraines, and headaches. Thanks to the good work of chiropractors, there are great ways to get relief.

This past Sunday marked World Spine Day. Our friends over at the Canadian Chiropractic Association have launched their campaign called Chiropractic Care Changed My Pain to help educate Canadians on the profound impact that chiropractors can have on their lives.

I encourage all of my colleagues to do their part for musculoskeletal health and share this invaluable information using the following link, www.chirochangespain.ca, and by using the hashtag #chirochangespain.

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to tell the House about the spirit and energy of the people of my riding of Shefford.

I am very pleased to see how many mayors, CEOs, and business leaders were interested in taking part today in an event that I am dubbing “Shefford on the Hill”. When I presented 20 municipalities in my riding with an opportunity to come meet stakeholders from various departments to learn more about the programs and support offered by the federal government for projects and priorities, the response was unanimous. This is a different and effective approach to making lasting ties between my riding and the federal government. One of the most important things to me as a member of Parliament is to facilitate exchanges between our local leaders and our government.

I therefore want thank these partners for taking the time to work with me on providing this opportunity to our riding.

Mr. Speaker, this weekend I marked World Food Day. This day helps raise awareness and acts as a call to action on hunger and food policy.

It also reminds us that we must ensure food security and nutrition for all Canadians.

To celebrate this event in my riding of Toronto—Danforth, I was at the Leslieville Farmers' Market to speak to my constituents about food issues and what concerns them.

Sunday afternoon our community joined together in a “Chew on This” anti-poverty walk along the Danforth in recognition of World Food Day and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The community walk was co-organized by the Glen Rhodes United Church, the Eastminster United Church, the Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation, the Pakistani Community Centre, the Madinah Masjid, and the Danforth Jewish Circle.

I want to commend my community for its efforts to raise awareness about food security.

Mr. Speaker, over this past constituency week, all members had a chance to return to their ridings and hear directly from Canadians what they think of the Liberal carbon tax.

It being the first week back after Thanksgiving, I feel it is appropriate to quote King Louis XIV's finance minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who said:

The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the least possible amount of hissing.

I can report to the House that the hard-working taxpayers back home are not just hissing, they are spitting mad. The Liberal carbon tax will raise the price of everything. Rural Canadians and farm families will particularly feel the brunt of this Liberal carbon tax, as it will unduly affect their way of life. Therefore, I urge the government to go back to the drawing board and to think long and hard as to whether imposing this major tax grab, one that will cost farm families and other families across Canada thousands of dollars and put our economy at risk, is the best way to reduce greenhouse gases.

Mr. Speaker, October 10 is World Mental Health Day. This day marks a yearly opportunity to raise awareness and end the stigma that is still too often tied to mental health issues. It is also an opportunity to celebrate some incredible people who are doing great work to help Canadians.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the work of Patty MacDonald. Patty has been the director of operations at the Sudbury/Manitoulin Canadian Mental Health Association since 2002. She has been working to deliver services and raise awareness about mental health in Sudbury for more than 25 years.

I thank Patty, her teammates, and countless others throughout the country who have been doing their best to improve the lives of those who struggle to overcome mental health challenges.

World Mental Health Day also marks an occasion to bring the discussion about mental health issues to this place and for all of us to reflect on what must be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

Let us hope a national strategy on mental health can soon be developed.

Mr. Speaker, in its call to action 43, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada called on federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

This summer, I had the great privilege of travelling around the country to speak to Canadians about Bill C-262, the legislative framework for reconciliation that I am proposing, and I can attest to their undeniable enthusiasm.

In fact, reconciliation concerns every one of us. As we approach Canada's 150th anniversary, is it not time to do more than just talk? Should we not also take action?

I am pleased to hold up as an example the noble gesture of the City of Val-d'Or, which passed a resolution in support of Bill C-262 on September 6.

Like Val-d'Or and many other Canadian communities, let us work together to ensure that there is justice for indigenous peoples because that will help lead to reconciliation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the constituents of Calgary Confederation. Our community lost a friend, a neighbour, and our former representative with the loss of the Hon. Jim Prentice.

Jim served as our member of Parliament, our member of the Alberta legislature, and our premier, and he represented us with dedication and commitment. He was a statesman in all he did, and our community is forever grateful. Jim always had time for his community and endeared himself to many.

His loss is a great loss for our nation and our province, but especially for our community. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, October 18, 1929, marks a pivotal moment in Canadian history when women were officially recognized as persons and granted the right to sit in the Senate.

This happened through the relentless effort of five women from Alberta. They successfully redefined the word “person” to include women. This gave women the same right as men to serve in the Senate of Canada. It also paved the way for women's increased participation in public and political life, and opened new doors of opportunity for generations of women and girls. Without the efforts and sacrifices of these five women, we would not be here today.

On Persons Day this year, let us renew our commitment to making a difference in the lives of women and girls so that our country continues its incredible journey towards equality for all.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised not to raise taxes on the middle class, but he broke that promise with new carbon fuel taxes, rolling back the tax-free savings account, eliminating the tax credit for music lessons and hockey practice, and making student textbooks and trade tools more expensive. He has raised taxes on the middle class and is making it harder for families to save, and most recently, he has made it tougher for Canadians to buy their first home.

When are Canadians finally going to get a break from the Prime Minister?

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to answer this question. One of the very first things we did as a new government was to lower taxes on middle-class Canadians. Nine million Canadians this year have lower taxes than they had last year, and that is helping them and their families have better lives.

More importantly, we put in place the Canada child benefit, which is helping nine out of 10 families with children, with $2,300 more on average, and without their having to pay tax on that $2,300. It is a much better situation for middle-class Canadians and those struggling to get into the middle class, with lower taxes today than they had before.

Mr. Speaker, it is Small Business Week and it is time that the Prime Minister stood up for the almost 70% of Canadians who work in small businesses. Sadly, his priorities are elsewhere. He flies off to Davos, Switzerland, to rub shoulders with celebrities and the world's richest; he jets down to Sun Valley to mingle with American billionaires; and in Small Business Week of all times, he decides to go to Meech Lake to hang out with Chinese billionaires.

Instead of pandering to billionaires and celebrities, will the Prime Minister reverse his tax hike on small businesses?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the member that we actually did have a lower rate on small businesses this year than we had last year. That is the reality.

What I can say with absolute clarity is that we are working on improving our economy. The trips that the Prime Minister has taken, we are so proud of. They have led to Thomson Reuters moving to Canada, General Motors reinvesting in Canada, General Electric investing in Canada, Microsoft investing in Canada. All of these things are helping our business community. Small, medium, and large businesses are doing better today than they did the year before.

Mr. Speaker, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Prime Minister's priority is not the concerns of ordinary working Canadians. He is completely out of touch with the problems they face, and the answers to those problems are not going to be found in meetings at Meech Lake with overseas billionaires. The answers are to give families a break, to lower their taxes, and to give them the opportunity to save and invest.

When is the Prime Minister going to come down to earth and start dealing with the concerns of ordinary working people?

Mr. Speaker, it is always nice to have more than one opportunity to say what we are doing on behalf of Canadian middle-class families. We are so pleased that families are better off today than they were a year ago. We know that middle-class families facing anxiety needed an increased Canada child benefit, and that is what we gave them: significantly more money to raise their families, to do the things they need to do to have good Canadian lives.

We are focused on how to improve this country for all Canadians, improving middle-class Canadians' lives, and creating opportunities for those struggling to get into the middle class.